Marbled salamander is a wonderful looking species of the mole salamander family. It is a very interesting creature to observe. Read and find all about the species below, and see for yourself how interesting a creature this is. Its attractive looks and intriguing behavioral traits is sure to captivate the attention and interest.
Animalia | |
Chordata | |
Lissamphibia | |
Caudata | |
Ambystomatidae | |
Ambystoma | |
Ambystoma opacum |
Animalia | |
Chordata | |
Lissamphibia | |
Caudata | |
Ambystomatidae | |
Ambystoma | |
Ambystoma opacum |
Length : Marbled salamanders are being recorded to have grown to the length of 4inches to 5inches. This length is small compared to the length of others in the salamander family.
Head : These salamanders, like other salamanders, have a broad head. Their eyes, nose, and mouth are on the upper front side of their heads.
Body : This species have a very stocky body. They have a long tail. Their tails comprise almost 40% of their entire body length. They
Color : The marbled salamanders are black, dark grey, and deep purple in color. Their underneath is grey colored. Silver and white spots are on its back.
Marbled salamanders are widely found in eastern United States of Americas. South of New England, to north of Florida, to western Illinois, and Texas, are the most widely populated domain of this species.
Marbled salamanders prefer woodlands, places where dirt accumulates, and gets wet and marshy lands. For breeding also they choose occasionally flooded areas. Apart from the breeding season the marbled salamanders are not much fond of entering water.
Adult Marbled salamanders eat mostly insects, snails, slugs, centipedes, worms, etc. They also eat larvae and eggs of other amphibian species. The younger ones or the larvae diet on tiny aquatic plants and animals.
Marbled salamanders are very interesting species in terms of behavior.
Breeding season of Marbled salamanders vary according to their distribution. They breed between September and October in northern part their distribution range, and the ones occupying southern part of their distribution range breeds between October and November. Marbled salamanders mate on land. The female salamanders lay 50eggs to 200 eggs, under a dug out depression in vegetation land, where there is plenty of water when it pours down. Mother salamanders coil up around their eggs, keeping them moist until it rains and the dug-out hole is filled with water. To hatch the larvae need lot of water in their surroundings. If they don’t get enough water in the winter rain then the larvae wait till spring to hatch. The larvae take about 3 months to 6 months to mature into salamanders, after hatching.
Marbled salamanders have a long life comparatively. They live for about 8 years to 10 years on average.
Almost all carnivorous and omnivorous species of animal kingdom are predators of marbled salamanders. Even other relatively bigger amphibians also prey on marbled salamanders.
Marbled salamanders have no physiological adaptation features apart from the only one, their poisonous tails.
Picture 3 – Marbled Salamander Image
Source – science.siu.edu
Marbled salamanders make excellent choice of pets, as they are completely hassle-free. They can be possessed and cherished playing with, only if the following few things are taken care of.
This species suffer no threat to their existence. According to the IUCN categorization this species is on the Least Concerned list, and have no threat to their survival in the near future also.
This species of salamanders is very interesting to observe. Find out some very interesting facts about the marbled salamanders below.
See the gorgeous pictures of this amazing species of salamanders below.
Picture 3 – Marbled Salamander Photo
Source – michigan.gov
Picture 4 – Marbled Salamander Picture
Source – uri.edu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbled_Salamander
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/marbledsalamander.htm#7
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ambystoma_opacum.html
http://www.reptilebuzz.com/caresheets/salamanders/marbled-salamander.php
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